Blog_Banner_Asset
    Homebreadcumb forward arrow iconBlogbreadcumb forward arrow iconGeneralbreadcumb forward arrow icon7 Reasons Why a Business Degree is Not Important to be Successful

7 Reasons Why a Business Degree is Not Important to be Successful

Last updated:
16th May, 2018
Views
Read Time
5 Mins
share image icon
In this article
Chevron in toc
View All
7 Reasons Why a Business Degree is Not Important to be Successful

This is an excerpt from the book ‘Disrupt and Conquer: How TTK Prestige Became a Billion-Dollar Company’ by Sandhya Mendonca and T.T. Jagannathan. T.T. Jagannathan is the chairman of the TTK Group. Sandhya Mendonca is a journalist-turned-media entrepreneur and founder of Raintree Media.
This book takes us through the journey of this extraordinary company – TTK Prestige, which fought off bankruptcy and rose like a phoenix to become a highly profitable, successful entity. What makes this story all the more startling is that T.T. Jagannathan is an accidental and reluctant businessman. He came into the profession very unexpectedly, and without any preparation, with neither an MBA nor having ever worked in the family business before having its very survival entrusted to him.

TTK Prestige Limited was incorporated as a private limited company on 22 October 1955, in Madras as TT Private Limited. It became a public limited company on 15 June 1988 with a market cap that exceeds Rs 9400 crore($1.4 Billion), it is one of the top 500 listed entities in India. However, it is intriguing to note that the pioneer of its development and growth, T.T.Jaggannathan, a mechanical engineer had no knowledge about business whatsoever.

This excerpt throws light on a few lessons that business schools would never teach you. This simple advice will certainly help any individual in starting a business:

  1. At first glance, the prospect of starting a business might initially come across as daunting to most but this becomes redundant the minute you realize and commit to the why of it. T.T. Jaggannathan is as committed to his parents as it could get. This strong sense of responsibility and commitment to family played a major role in his constructive decisions that led the company from its historic debt-ridden turnaround to profit.
  2. Business involves a lot of common sense which is easier said than done. You must not be afraid to apply your common sense and acumen. The Biggest Innovation of TTK limited has been the acclaimed pressure cooker’s GRS(Gasket Release System) which was nothing more than a hole in the lid that saved the company from bankruptcy. ‘The simpler an innervation, the greater its elegance’. A keen eye for detail and of course the most uncommon trait of all, common sense is a necessity!
  3. In business, one should not look at the bigger picture but rather have an eye for detail. While it is important to have a target goal in mind, focusing too much on it marks room for error on the current objective, however, when you take care of the smaller picture or the task at hand efficiently, the big picture will look after itself.
  4. The process of disruption is definitely a force to be reckoned with and has been the Key characteristic of TTK group structure. It disrupts markets and the nature of its own businesses thereby providing a new perspective in dealing with problems and coming up with solutions. The art of Disruption is at the crux of this companies motto. Simply stated going into a market that has a scope for further growth and innovation requires disruption.
  5. Just having a great prospective idea isn’t enough to start a business as the art of implementation has to be extensively monitored. You have to be deeply involved from the start devoting effort, time and consistency.
  6. This is not a one man show, the whole idea of business is growing and helping others achieve so together. You have to muster the strength to collect and put faith in the right people who always have the businesses best interest at heart. At the end, you can never go wrong with having different perspectives and solutions to problems that seem unsolvable.
  7. Brutus says in Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar, ‘there is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune’. Moving with the ebbs and flows of the tide, the TTK Group latched on to each and every opportunity coming their way either by accident or good fortune. A little luck never hurts, so show up each day – Give your best effort and take always start by putting one leg in front of the other.
For Future Leaders: Importance of Digital Marketing in Business

With invaluable business lessons, decades of experience and innovation distilled in pages, Disrupt and Conquer is a must-read for aspiring entrepreneurs, executives and business leaders.

Ads of upGrad blog
Profile

upGrad

Blog Author
We are an online education platform providing industry-relevant programs for professionals, designed and delivered in collaboration with world-class faculty and businesses. Merging the latest technology, pedagogy and services, we deliver an immersive learning experience for the digital world – anytime, anywhere.
Get Free Consultation

Select Coursecaret down icon
Selectcaret down icon
By clicking 'Submit' you Agree to  
UpGrad's Terms & Conditions

Our Popular MBA Course

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1What are the prerequisites for starting a business?

Business is not run for a social cause; it is to bring home the bacon. To do so, it is necessary that before starting a business, some homework is done. Performing assiduous groundwork is the first step. Conduct detailed research by identifying the target audience. Pin down their needs, demands, and traits. Business is not about making a product or service available but about being able to sell it at the desired price. For that, stand firm to the mission and discover an optimal structure. Whether to run it as a sole proprietorship, partnership, a private company, etc., is to be determined beforehand. Amount and source of funds are paramount for any business, even before it is set.

2What is the SWOT analysis?

SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats. SWOT Analysis is the evaluation of all these aspects of a business. It is employed regularly by firms to identify the risks and take an appropriate course of action to minimise the damage or turn it into profit by examining internal, external, current, and upcoming factors. The overall business environment is observed and analysed to apprise the organisation of potential challenges and scope. Uncertainties are a significant trait of any business, but to survive these and recover as a triumph, is the aim of SWOT analysis.

3What is business disruption?

Disruption, in simple terms, means disturbance. In business jargon, it means the industry's disorder which leads to many swinging changes. These changes can be mind-blowing or blow-backing. Thanks to these disruptions, some businesses reach the zenith while others trough. It is generally observed that the underrated products or services suddenly come into vogue and even convert the existing products into obsolete ones due to these disruptions.

Explore Free Courses

Suggested Blogs

How to Negotiate Salary: 8 Key Tips You Need to Know Before Negotiating
900551
Introduction Salary Negotiation is one thing everyone goes through in their lifetime at least once. You have finally landed the desired job offer, an
Read More

by Kamal Jacob

07 Nov 2023

17 Exciting Final Year Projects Ideas & Topics 2023 [Latest]
506533
Summary: In this article, you will learn the 17 Exciting Final Year Projects Ideas & Topics 2023. Take a glimpse below. Python Final Year Projec
Read More

by Rohit Sharma

07 Nov 2023

Top 7 Courses After 12th Commerce Without Maths [2023]
197500
Summary: In this article, you will learn about the top 7 courses after 12th commerce without Maths. B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) B.Com (H) (Bachelor
Read More

by Nitin Gurmukhani

19 Oct 2023

Top 25 Highest Paying Jobs in India [2023] – Latest & Trending
2025022
Summary: In this article, we are going to learn about the top 25 highest paying jobs in India. Professions / Jobs Average Salary 2023 Highest Sala
Read More

by Nitin Gurmukhani

15 Oct 2023

Top 25 Highest Paying Jobs in the World in 2023 [A Complete Guide]
946123
Summary In this article, you will learn about the top 25 highest-paying jobs in the world. And you will be able to get the answer to ‘Which job has t
Read More

by Nitin Gurmukhani

11 Oct 2023

Career Options for Maths Students in 2023 [Top 10 Courses For Maths Students]
67850
Are you in love with the science of numbers and want a career in this field? How many of you wonder which are all the best career options for maths st
Read More

by Dilip Guru

03 Oct 2023

Top 10 Best Career Options for Science Students: Which Should You Select in 2023
198510
Choosing a career stream or science line job is one of the most path-breaking moments of an individual’s life. It defines the future course of their p
Read More

by Dilip Guru

28 Sep 2023

Top 13 BCA Project Ideas & Topics For Students in 2023
21063
As a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) student, one of the essential aspects of the curriculum is completing a project that showcases their expe
Read More

by Pavan Vadapalli

28 Sep 2023

Which Engineering Stream has Highest salary in India? Which One Should You Choose?
1488
The engineering stream in India is one of the most sought-after and revered. As the digital age propels the demand for roles like software engineers a
Read More

by upGrad

24 Sep 2023

Schedule 1:1 free counsellingTalk to Career Expert
icon
footer sticky close icon